Source: SKY_Sports
Bougherra justifies Toon snub
Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra insists he was right to turn down a move to Newcastle in January.
The Algeria international was offered the opportunity to head to the Premier League during the winter transfer window, in a move which would have seen his salary doubled.
However, the French-born centre-half opted to remain at Ibrox and was rewarded for his loyalty with a Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup Double.
He will now have the opportunity to try his luck in the UEFA Champions League next season, while former suitors Newcastle are planning for life in the Championship.
"Newcastle made an offer for me but I took the right decision to stay with Rangers," Bougherra told the Daily Record.
"I felt they are the right club for me. I did not want to make the same mistake I made two years ago when I left Sheffield Wednesday for Charlton.
"I knew that I was going to win something with Rangers and that there would be the Champions League for me at the end.
"So I've got absolutely no regrets about staying. The Rangers fans have welcomed me with open arms - they love me and I love them too.
"It has been a beautiful season for me. I've won the Double, been voted the Rangers fans' player of the year and will now have the chance of entering the Champions League at the group stages next season.
"It has been a perfect campaign for me and if Algeria beat Egypt on Saturday it will be the icing on the cake.
"I struggled a bit early on in the season but I truly exploded once January had gone. I felt more at home in the second half of the campaign and really made progress.
"I enjoy making charges upfield and I have to pay tribute to the Rangers coaching staff. They let me express myself on the ball.
"I have improved my skills playing for the Algerian national side. People in Scotland are unused to seeing defenders with technique.
"Now I can't wait to see who will be in our Champions League group. We will have a minimum of six games in Europe, even if we get knocked out straight away.
"I hope we will have a French team in our group so I can show people in France it is possible to go abroad and still be a success.
"I would prefer us to meet Lyon or Marseille. I'd favour Marseille as I want to play against my friend Karim Ziani and they are the club I have supported since I was a boy.
"But Lyon would be good as well as they are not far away from Dijon where I was born."
